The Las Vegas Raiders got a coaching change boost after firing former head coach Josh McDaniels. Nonetheless, Maxx Crosby notes that the franchise’s decision to move in a different direction with interim head coach Antonio Pierce has brought more than a tactical switch.
Crosby’s remarks may be a dig at the previous regime, but Pierce is getting back to basics. The 45-year-old is steering away from the “Patriot Way” and isn’t attempting to have players fit a specific mold. Instead, he wants them to be who they are.
Maxx Crosby: Squad is embracing the “Raider Way” mantra…
While there’s no denying that the “Patriot Way” was successful, the Raiders are their own brand. After all, the franchise gave the NFL world the “Just Win, Baby!” slogan. Even though the Silver and Black has fallen on hard times, they’re still an iconic brand in the league.
So, it comes as no surprise that McDaniels’ attempt to turn the Raiders into something that they’re not—well, it didn’t work. Pierce is now trying to instill that mentality of what it means to be a Raider. Will it work? The jury is still out on that, but for now, Maxx Crosby and Co. are embracing that approach.
“I think everybody’s just been just fully embraced it,” Crosby told Pat McAfee on Monday’s edition of “The Pat McAfee Show.” “You could just see our social media has been going nuts. I feel like they’ve been A-plus this last week, but everyone’s been eating it up, and it’s the truth.
“Like, AP talks about it. He told everybody he wants everyone to have their personality, show everyone to be themselves, [and] not be walking on eggshells [or] anything like that. It’s just be a Raider. People talk about the Raiders and the history and things like that, but it’s like when you come in this building, being a Raider is a little bit different.”
Whatever McDaniels and former general Dave Ziegler wanted to build wasn’t working. Furthermore, the duo was steering the Raiders away from what they were known for in the past. Culture isn’t the end-all-be-all for what makes a franchise successful, but it is an essential factor that seems to have been missing in Las Vegas.
Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce knows what it means…
Antonio Pierce didn’t play for the Silver and Black during his NFL career, but he grew up rooting for the team. As a result, the Super Bowl champion knows what the Raiders symbolize for the fan base. The “Patriot Way” is an all-business attitude, and the players must check their egos at the door.
However, whether the franchise was in Los Angeles, Oakland, or now Las Vegas, the Raiders have been an organization that does things differently. In the players’ eyes, Pierce is leaning into the “bad boy” attitude the franchise is known for.
“So, it’s a different brand of just being like the bad boys in the NFL and bringing that back,” Crosby added. “And I feel like there’s no other organization that has the history we do. And you got to fully embrace it and love it. I feel like everybody’s bought in on that, and AP is pushing that message. He’s from Compton. He’s literally grew up a Raider fan. He’s a Raider for life. So he’s embracing it, and just everyone’s following.”
Pierce’s message worked on Sunday for the 30-6 win over the New York Giants. The next step for the interim coach is to ensure that the team can replicate that success again against the New York Jets. Another win and crawling back to .500 could have many believing that the former linebacker can turn this ship around.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/Zach Bolinger
